KING EDWARD AND THE SPANISH MARRIAGE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 133, 8 June 1906, Page 1

KING EDWARD AND THE SPANISH MARRIAGE.

Mr H. W. Lucy writes in the Sydney Morning Herald:—"His Majesty has, I understand, been much concerned by the protests made by extreme sections of -his Protestant subjects against Princess Ena's secession to the Roman Catholic Church, as a condition prior to her marriage with the King of Spain. By his Majesty's direction the matter was referred to the Law Officers of the Crown. It is commonly understood that the statute law confers upon the reigning sovereign the right of prohibiting, for what may seem just cause, any marriage of a member of the Royal Family. The authority is based upon an Act passed in the twelfth year of the reign of George 111. But the Act contains a proviso excluding from its operation ' the issue of princesses who have married or may hereafter marry into foreign families.' In the temporary withdrawal from oificial life of the Attorney-General, who is confined to his bod by illness, the case was submitted to thoSoliejior-Ueneral. In considering it his keen eye alighted upon a curious accident in connection with the married life of Prince Henry of Battenberg that happily removes the difficulty. The Prince did not become a naturalised British subject till a moiit}) after his marriage with the King's sister. At tlje {imij tlio peremony took place lie was actually a foreigner. Consequently, the Act of George 111 does not apply to the Princess Ena, and his Majesty is relieved from statutory responsibility in the matter."